Men, Women Differ on Seeking Start-up Financing

July 6, 1999

Women entrepreneurs are much less likely than men to seek loans or other outside financing when setting up their businesses. That is one conclusion drawn from a survey of 562 male and female entrepreneurs commissioned by American Express Co. and the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Here are some other findings:

Women business owners are no more likely than men to offer "family friendly" benefits -- such as maternity/paternity leave, flex-time and telecommuting -- and there was no difference between them in offering any type of benefit.

Eighty-two percent of women started their own business rather than acquiring an existing business -- versus 72 percent of men.

Forty-three percent of women say they look to trade shows and trade organizations to network -- compared to 23 percent of men.

Women respondents tended to be better educated, single and slightly older than the men.

Only 46 percent of the study's female respondents said they had actually looked for financing to set up their businesses, compared with 61 percent of the men.

Source: Eleena de Lisser, "Business Women Are Warier than Men about Financing," Wall Street Journal, July 6, 1999.